Build an inventory with photographs
An inventory proves what you owned if things are stolen, burned or flooded, and helps police return recovered items.
How
- List each valuable item: description, serial or hallmark numbers, date and price bought. UK police recommend a short description with purchase date and cost.
- Photograph every item. The FDIC recommends an inventory supported by receipts, appraisals or photos.
- Keep receipts as proof of purchase.
- In the UK, police suggest registering items on a property register such as Immobilise; check what schemes exist in your country.
- Store the inventory in two places: one paper copy in the fire safe and one encrypted copy off site.
- Update the inventory every year and when you add or remove items. Use the calculator in this module for a category summary if you want one.
- Keep the inventory private. It is a shopping list for a thief.
Do these first
Sources
- Keeping your belongings safe. Avon and Somerset Police (UK), accessed 2026-11
- Protecting your important documents and cash (Consumer News, September 2021). US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), accessed 2026-11